Combined type-writing and computing machine.



F; A. HART. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. i913.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTO NEY INV'ENTOR:

P am m w M m M Q N 1m O E T mm A mm W w M 6 P Y &w a P Fig F. A. HART.TYPE wnnme AND COMPUTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. I913-COMBINED UNITED STATES FREDERICK A. HART, F NEWARK,

earnr orator,

MESNE assre-nmnnrs,

TD UNDERWOOD COMPUTING MACHINE COMPANY, 03' NEW YORK, N. 17., A CORPO-RATION 0F NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1918.

Application filed August 6, 1913. Serial No. 783,258.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. HART, a citizen of the United States,residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Type- Writingand Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to an improved computing andtypewriting mechanism of the kind disclosed in United States Patent No.816,319 to Hans Hanson.

in this class of machines, the numeral keys of the typewriter not onlyoperatethe type-bars and carriage-feeding mechanism, but also setupindex-pins, so that at the completion of the writing of a number, acorresponding array of index-pins is set up. These setup pins are thenused to control the extent of rotation of their associatednumber-wheels; the latter being moved by a general operator, which isset in motion after the writing of the number on the worksheetiscompleted. The present invention relates generally to the index-pinmechanism, and particularly to means for setting them at the operationof the keys. Of these pins there are usually provided nine for each ofthe numberswheels; and the pins are usuallymounted on parallelcomputation or decimal bars, which in the Underwood-Hanson machine areprovided also with rack teeth, to engage pinions to drive or impel thenumber-wheels.

One of the main objects of the invention is to adapt these index-pinbars to be displaced endwise, to bring the pins a thin reach of thekey-operated pin-setting devices, by means of a simple and inexpensivedevice requiring but trifling change in the manufacture of the machine,and moreover readily applicable to existing machinesf Usually a dog onthe typewriter carriage depresses one after another a series ofdenomination-selecting jacks, and these are usually connected to theindex-pin bars by means of a transposition device, the order of thenumber-wheels being the reverse of the -ir der of the jacks: andaccording to the present improvements. simple devices are arrangedbetween the transposition device and the index-pin bars. to displacethem endwise to pin-setting position instead of lifting themto suchposition as heretofore.

In the preferred form of the invention, bell-cranks are interposedbetween the index-pin'bars or number-wheel actuators and thetransposition device or transposers before mentioned, all so mountedthat they can be inserted, removed, and replaced individually. Thebell-cranks are herein shown as mounted on a plate provided withopenended slots wherein the several bell-cranks are respectively adaptedto oscillate, surace grooves "bisecting these slots and allording seatsfor separate pivot-pins on which the bell-cranks are supportedindependently of one another, and screws Whose heads bear upon theextended ends of the pivot-pins.

The effect accomplished is to simplify the mounting of the variousmechanical elements, to reduce the labor in fitting of same, to localizesuch repairs as might eventually be needed, and to insure a safe andeiiicicnt construction.

The index-pins are mounted on their bars or wheel actuators by means ofdetachable socket-pieces in which they are yieldingly retained byspring-pressed devices, and through engagement with side flanges onthese bars, a single flange serving to limit the reciprocal movements ofan entire row of pins across the corresponding bar, though they mayrotate harmlessly on their axes. within the mounting.

()ther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

in the accompanving drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the combined typewriting andcomputing machine. some parts being broken and others removed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view showing part of a general operator,and a lock for the setting device.

Fig. 3 is a broken perspective view to illustrate "the method ofmounting the bellcranks.

Fig. -iis a detail diagrammatic view illustrating. in perspective, asetting operation.

Fig. is a broken side view of one bar and its indeX-pins,-showinghow thelatter are mounted and set for-action.

line AA of Fig. 5.

-Figs. 7 and 8 represent in top plan and rear end views, respectively,the particular arrangement and relative positions of the transpose-rs,bell-cranks, andindeX-pin bars or register actuators. I

The typewriter frame 1 is mounted upon a computing case 2. Thetypewriter carriage 3 is controlled by an escapement 3 subject to thekey action. Ordinary character keys 4 and numeral keys 5 operate thetype-bars to strike the platen 6, and as they approach the platen thetype-bars 3 actuate the universal bar in the ordinary Underwoodtypewriting machine. Number-wheels 7 visible through an aperture 8 aremounted on a shaft 9. singly or conjointly. The same key 5 that drivesthe type-bar to the printing point on the platen also regulates theextent to which I each wheel of the register is to be actuated.

For each number wheel 7 there is an ac-' tuator which consists of abar10 having a rack 11 in mesh with a pinion 12 adjacent-to wheel 7. Thesebars 10 extend from front to rear of the machine, and are mounted forreciprocation longitudinally. They rest at their forward ends uponatransverse rod 13 which-is notched crosswise, Fig. 1, to hold themproperly spaced, and at their rear ends, they are likewise supported andspaced apart by a guide-comb 14.

There are nine index-pins 1.5 on each bar.

These pins are fitted for up and down movements. through verticalsockets formed in plates 16 which are fastened at their ends to saidbars. The plates 16 are disposed against Y the left-hand sides of thebars, and each has a flange 18 at its upper edge projecting laterallythrough a longitudinal slot in the bar.

An angular strip 19,. Fig. 4, is attached to,

the bar 10 on the right-hand side, and is so positioned as to hear atits lower edge upon the flange 18 projected the-rethrough, while itsupper edge forms a flange 20 overlying the bar and extending beyond iton the side opposite.

The circumference of each pin 15 is uniformly reduced at 21 toward theupper end 1 thereof, to produce a head 22 and a shoulder 23, affordingmeans for limiting the pins movements up and down, by. engagement withsaid flange 20. As Figs. 4 to 6, indicate, the flange 20 enters thecircumferential de pressions at the upper ends of all the. pins, andacts as a retainer for them in both directions, the heads 22 bearingupon the flange 20 when the pins are driven downwardly,

and the shoulders 23 similarly encountering the flange at the time thepins are pushed upwardly. The pins are idle while in the latter-namedstate in which they are normally maintained, each by a spring-pressedball 24 m a recess 25 in said socket plate, t

3 by their heels, 3, as

engage a circumferential groove 26 in the lower portion of the pin. Anypin may be forced down past the ball 24, and when so depressed, itslower end protrudes below the contiguous lower edge of the rack bar 10,as shown in Fig. 5. The pins are depressed by transversely-disposedlinks or members 27 of a setting device, which, however, is normallyinoperative with relation to said pins, I

since the index-pin bars or rack bars are normally' far enough back tokeep all their pms out of range of the links 27. A downwardlyfor thepurpose of substitution or any other reason, simply by detaching theangle strip 19 and forcing the pin out past thespringpressed ball 24.

Bell-cranks 30 are used for individually advancing the rack bars 10,each to a slight extent, and bringing their index-pins 15 forwardlyintothe working zone of the setting device, so that the pins standdirectly beneath its links 27. A special mounting is provided for thesebell-cranks, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8. A supporting plate 31 isplacedtransversely of the computer case 2, in a horizontal plane parallel toand underlying the rear ends of, the series of rackbars, rearwardly ofthe guide-comb 14. This plateis cut on an oblique line at the end remote.from theguidc-comb, and is formed with I op'efi-ended longitudinalslots 32 at the same end, wherein the elbows of the bell-cranks areinserted, with one arm of, each bellcrank projecting out rearwardly, andthe other arm reaching up to the corresponding rack bar, so as to bearagainst a stud 33 located forwardly thereof on one side of the bar.Grooves 3-4 are also formed in the surface of the plate 31 transverselyof its longitudinal slots, and separate pivot-pins 35 on which thebell-cranks areloosely mounted independent of one another, are receivedin these grooves where they are held fast by the impinging heads ofscrews 36,,as shown in Fig. 3. 'Thus mounted, the bell-cranks areseverally adapted to impart the desired lish a cross-connection betweenthe bellcranks 30 and the aforesaid lines of mechanical connections,whereby the latter transmit to the former the right-'to-left movement ofthe typewriter carriage after converting it into a left-to-right motion.They consist mainly of bars 37 one for each bell-crank 30. These bars 37are placed transversely under the rear ends of the actuators 10 and sothat they will underlie successively the horizontal extremities of thebell-cranks 30, one to each. As shown more clearly in Fig.- 7, thehorizontally-disposed lower arms of the bell-cranks projectconsecutively at uniform distances from the obliquely cut-plate 31, thusterminating all on a line slanting in the same direction.

The several bars 37, as seen in Figs. 4 and 8, have both their endsturned downwardly by means of which they are adapted. for

vertical movements, through pivotal connections 38 with pairs ofbell-cranks 39 fulcrumed on rods 40-which extend horizontally andvrearwardly from depending lugs 41 on opposite sides ofthe guide-comb 14,at its lower edge. A transverse link 42 parallel to' the bar 37pivotally interconnects the bell-cranks in each pair. Two projections 43and 44 are formed respectively on the top and bottom of each bar'37, onopposite sides of the center thereof, connecting means whereby the barcan be raised from one end, and itself in turn will become adapted forraising at the other end. The under projections 44, wherewith the bars37 move upwardly, are located diagonally with relation to the series ofthese bars, so that the latter may be reached in consecutive order fromthe rearmost to the foremost, starting from the right-hand side of themachine, and thence proceeding in regular I succession toward theleft-hand side. Contrariwise, the upper projections 43, intended totransmit the movement of the bars 37 from the opposite ends thereof, aremade to 'run in a reverse diagonal direction, in order that they may bebrought successively under the horizontally-pointed extremities of thelower arms of the bellcranks 30, to raise them progressively in ad-Vance of one another from theleft toward The cdnnections between thetransposers and the typewriter carriage include levers 45, links 46, andjacks 47, operated by a selecting dog 48 mounted in a block 49 on thecarriage. rod 50 and connect the lower ends 51 of the links 46. Theinner ends of the several levers 45 are turned upwardly as at 52, Fig.4, and made to engage the under projections 44 of the transposer bars 37which they reach consecutively. As Figs. 1 and 7 show, these levers areof progressively-increasing lengths so that they may be hinged foruniand these aflord The levers 45 are pivoted on aform action on bothsides of their pivot and brought into contact with their respectivetransposer bars, through the upturned ends 52 and downwardly-directedprojections 44 in sequence from the right-hand sideof the machine towardthe left-hand side thereof, beginning with the connection of theshortestlever with the rearmost bar, thence advancing inwardly consecutively byconnecting levers of proportionate dimensions to the other barsforwardly located. The jacks 47 are fulcrumed on a transverse rod 54 ina bracket 55.

When the selecting dog 48 is brought into engagement with the jacks 47by the travel ofthe typewriter carriage, it oscillatesthem serz'atc'm.As each jack 47 is swung upwardly at its inner end, it depresses by itslowered outer end the link 46 thereunder, which in turn oscillates thethereto coupled lever 45, and raises the transposingbar 37 that iscross-connected with its bell-crank 30 and so shifts forwardly oradvances the rack bar 10 of corresponding decimal order, thus bringingits index-pins 15 directly 'under the transverse links or settingmembers 27 of the setting device, as shown in .Fig. 4. Any pin 15 in theadvanced row can at that time be acted upon by the overlying member 27.The pin is set or pushed down into its operative position by loweringthe correspondingmember' 27 and causing it to press squarely upon thepins head 22 straight underneath.

To move the setting members 27 downwardly in this manner, they arepivotally suspended by lugs 61, each from the lower arms of a pair ofbell-cranks 62, fulcrumed on rods 63 that are suitably spaced apart anddisposed longitudinally within the case 2. By preference, the upper armsof the pairs of bell-cranks 62 are pivotallv interlinked by tie-bars 64.The several tie-bars are moved endwise to swing the bell-cranks 62 ontheir supporting rods 63 and thereby impart to the lower members 27adownward movement in the opposite direction, this being effected byproviding each tie-bar with a stud 66 which is engaged by a forked arm vrigidly secured to a rock shaft 67 journaled in a frame 68 in the upperpart of the computer case and having another arm 69 placed in the pathof a stem or plunger 70 depending from a numeral key 5 thereabove (seeFig. 1). This stem is pivr ted at 71 to a bracket 72 on the numeral key,and enters the case 2 through a slot 73. Each numeral key, it isunderstood, operates a separate rock shaftand correspondinglinkractuated transverse member of the setting device. through theconnections described.

The. above-named general operator. of the computing mechanism comprisesa pair of laterally-spaced bars 79 each of which has an arm 83 securedthereto, the two arms 83 being connected by rear and front cross-bars 85and 84, respectively adapted, one to propel the actuators 10 of theregister-wheels by engaging the pins 15 depressed by the members 27 ofthe setting device, and the other to withdraw the actuatorssubsequently, by engagement with lugs 86 thereunder. The generaloperator is reciprocated by gearing, which includes a rack 87 on theforward end of each bar 79, a pinion 88 in mesh therewith, and a segmentgear 89 also engaging this pinion. The gear 89 is rigidly secured to atransverse rock shaft 90, and the movements thereof are con trolled by-an oscillatoryhandle 91, located on the left-hand side of the machine.As the general operator is moved forwardly by oscillating the handle 91.in the same direction, the rear cross bar 85 of the rack bar 79encounters the set pins 15011 the actuators 10, and these pins drive theactuators onwardly, thereby causing the appropriate register wheels torotate, each a variable amount corresponding to the digit which it ismeant to display. On the reversemovement of the general operator, theregisterwheel actuators that have thus been propelled are pushed back byits forwardlylocated cross bar 84, engaging the lugs 86, the wheels notturningon the reverse stroke, owing to pawl and ratchet connections-shown in the aforesaid Hanson patent.

Other parts of the mechanism, not bearing directly on the presentinvention,'are .similarly returned to idle positions by the generaloperator.

For preventing the operation of any numeral key during the action of thegeneral operator, the latter is provided with means to elevate a lockingbar 74 beneath the in- (leX-pin setting members 27 which are connectedto the keys asaforesaid. This bar 7 4 has diagonal slots 7 6 whereby itis mounted upon screw-studs 75 fixed upon the framework. A link 77connects the bar 74 to a bell-crank 78 pivotally mounted at 80; and oneend 81 of the bell-crank normally rests in a notch 82 provided in one ofthe bars 79 of the general operator.

Normally the bar 74. is depressed as at Figs. 1 and 4, the end 81occupying the notch 82; but at the first part of the advance of thegeneral operator, the arm 81 is swung by engagement of the edge 82 ofthe notch 82, and thereby'the bell-crank 78 is caused to pull the link77 and draw thebar 74 to efi'ective locking position, as at Fig. 2. Thepartsremain in this position, the end 81 riding on the upper edge of thebar 7 9, until the' general operator completes its forward movement andnearly finishes its re- -turn movement, during which time no numeral kevcan be operated. At the completion of the return movementof the generaloperator, the arm 81 again falls into the Having thus described my thebar 74, produced as above described, by

the action of the bell-crank 78 and the link 77, said bar 7 a willoperate to positively return to normal position any of the settingmembers 27 which have failed to rise concomitantly with thecorresponding numeral key Variations may be resorted to within the scopeof the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used withoutothers. invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine, the-combination with a register,'a series ofactuating devices therefor, and denominational members for saidactuating devices of operating connections between said actuatingdevicesand sald denominatlonal members for transmitting the movement of theformer to the latter, said connections including a series ofbell-cranks; anda grooved plate on which said bell-cranks are journaled.

2. In a computing machine, the combina tion with computing mechanism,and two corresponding series of movable members representing similardecimal values, of means for transmitting motion from one to I anotherof said series of members, said means including a series of bell-cranks,a support for said bell-cranks, and separate pivots for said bell-cranksdemountably journaled in said support.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a register, a series oflongitudinally-slidable actuators therefor, of a corresponding series ofbell-cranks adapted to meve said actuators a predetermined extent, and aplate having open-ended slots parallel to the lines of reciprocation ofthe several actuators in which the bell-cranks are journaled foroscillation.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, oftwo series of members having corresponding decimal values, bell-cranksinterposed therebetween to operate the one from the other, and a slottedplate wherein said bell-cranks are respectively lodged and oscillated,said plate being transversely grooved at the surface to permit openjournaling thereon of the series of bell-cranks.

In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, and aseries of actuators therefor arranged for reciprocation, of operativeconnections for denominationally selecting said actuators including anintermediate series of bell-cranks, and a plate having slots wherein theseries is journaled and guided, each bell-crank having one armintermittingly impinging against its respective actuator, and the otherarm alternately engaged by one of said connections.

6. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, ofa series of actuators therefor, operative connections for saidactuators,intermediate bell-cranks, and an obliquely-cut supportingplate for said bell-cranks formed with slots opening through the obliqueedge thereof, the several bell-cranks having arms extended outwardlyfrom said slots at working distances from said edge, and the theretoappertaining operative connections advancing successivel toward saidarms.

7. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, ofa series or" actuators for said computing mechanism arranged so as to beadvanced in succession from the left. toward the right in accordancewith the normal reading of decimal orders, bell-cranks respectivelyadapted to slide the same, an obllquely-cut supporting plate formed withslots opening through the oblique edge thereof from which saidbellcranks consecutively project rearwardly, a series of operativeconnections, akey-actuated transversely-moving carriage, a selecting dogon said carriage encountering said operative connections successively asit moves from the right toward the left, and transposers diagonallycro'ssconnected with the operative connections and the arms of thebell-cranks projecting out of said slots.

8. In a computing machine, the combination with a register, of anactuator therefor, a flange projecting laterally from said actuator, anda row of transversely movable impellers carried by said actuator andlocated partly to one side of said flange, said impellers consisting ofcylindrical pins having each .a reduced stem portion in engagement withthe flange and a head extending laterally thereabove.

9. In a computing machine, the combina tion with a register, of'anactuator therefor, a transversely-movable impeller for said actuatorhaving a head and a shoulder separated by a reduced stem portion, and alateral flange on said actuator entering said reduced portion forpermanent engagement therewith, so that the said head and shoulder willhe retained on opposite sides of said flange.

10. In a computing machine, the combination with a register, of anactuator therefor, a transversely-movable impeller for said actuatorconsisting of a cylindrical pin held loose circumferentially, said pinhaving its stem partly reduced to form a head and shoulder thereon, anda lateral flange on the actuator substantially perpendicular to thereduced portion of said steirpermanently engaging it between said headand said shoulde 11. In a computing machine, the combination with aregister, of an actuator, a row of impellers individually LGOVttlOleacross said actuator, said impellers consisting of cylindrical pinsloosely soclreted by one side of said actuator, each having its steinpartly reduced to form a head and a shoulder there" on, and a flangeprojected laterally from the actuator and entering the reduced portionsof the several stems for permanent engagement with the rowof impellers.

12. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism. ofa duplicate series of members for selecting decimal orders in saidcomputing mechanism, a bellcrank adapted to transmit motion from one ofsaid members to a corresponding member, a surface-grooved plateaffording a support to said bell-crank, a pivot for the latter partlyembedded in the groove of said plate, and a retaining screw bearing onthe exposed 'side of said pivot. k

13. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, ofa duplicate series of members for selecting decimal orders in saidcomputing mechanism, a series of bell-cranks intervening between saidseries of members to transmit motion from one series to the other, aplate for said bellcranks formed with surface grooves, separatepivot-pins on which the several bellcranks are journaled in the groovesof said plate, and retaining screws with heads im ping-111g on saidpivot-pins.

14. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism. ofa series of numeral keys, a system of indexing devices, members operatedby said keys for setting said indexing devices to control the amount ofmovement of said computing mechanism, a bar moving to position to locksaid setting members against actuation, a general operator to coiiperatewith said indexing devices to register the corresponding number, saidgeneral operator having a bar provided with a notch, and a tumblerconnected to said locking bar and normally resting in said notch butmovable out of the notch by the movement of the general operator, saidtumbler mounted to rest on the edge of the notch during the completionof the forward stroke of the general operator, and to fall intosaidnotch again upon the return of the general operator to normalposition.

- 15. In a computing machine, the combination with denominationalmembers, of bellcranks for making them effective, shafts whereon saidbell-cranks are mounted, a support for said bell-cranks arrangeddiagonally of said members, said support having slots in Which saidbell-cranks swing and also having grooves adapted to carry said shafts,and headed members entered into said support and overlying said groovesto hold said bell-cranks in their journals.

16. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,and a series of denominational members therefor, of a series ofbell-cranks set along a diagonal line, one bell-crank for eachdenominational member, and a series of selector linkages set at rightangles to said denominational members and effective thereon through saidbellcranks.

17. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, ofa series of key-operated linkages for controlling said computingmechanism, a holding bar effective on said linkages, denominationalmembers on which said linkages are effective, a general operator forsaid denominational members, and means positively moved by said operatorto force said holding bar to effective position and positively restoresaid linkages to normal position whenever the operator is actuated tocarry it out of its normal position.

18. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism, ofa series of key-operated linkages for controlling said computingmechanism, a holding bar'efit'ective on said linkages, denominationalmembers on which said linkages are effective, a general operator forsaid denominational members, means positively moved by said operator toforce said holding bar to effective position and positively restore saidlinkages to normal position whenever the operator is actuated to carryit out of its normal position, and a series of bell-cranks for movingsaid denominational members to operable position with relation to saidlinkages.

19. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,and a series of denominational members therefor; of a correspondingseries of actuating devices arranged beneath and at right angles to saiddenominational members; and a corresponding series of bell-cranksintermediate said denominational members and said actuating devices, fortransmitting the movement of the former to the latter, each bell-crankcomprising a horizontal arm projecting across its associated actuatingdevice and a vertical arm engaging the associated denominational member.

20. In a computing machine, the combination with computingmechanism',iand a series of denominational membersth'erefor; of acorresponding series of vertically-movable linkages for actuating saiddenominational members arranged beneath and at right angeneral operatorengageable with the set devices on said denominational members, toactuate thelatter; and a rocker positively operated by said generaloperator and connected to shift said bar endwise, whereby said bar issimultaneously moved vertically by the co-action of said slots andguides.

22. *In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,and a series of key-operated linkages therefor; of a locking bar forsaid linkages having diagonal slots therein, and guides projecting intosaid slots; denominational members having devices thereon settable bysaid linkages; a general operator engageable with the set devices onsaid denominational members, to actuate the latter, said generaloperator comprising a bar provided with a cam; and a rocker engageableby said cam during the forward movement of said general operator andconnected to shift said bar endwise, whereby said bar is simultaneouslymoved vertically by the co-action of said slots and guides.

v FREDERICK A. HART. Witnesses G110. \V. NAYLOR, F. E. ALEXANDER.

